Hop plant named &#39;CV12&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new hop plant named ‘CV12’ is disclosed. ‘CV12’ is notable for its increased cone size, relatively high myrcene content and unique spicey, piney, citrus aroma profile.

Genus and species: Humulus lupulus.

Variety denomination: CV12.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND

Humulus lupulus, also referred to as hop or common hop, is a floweringplant in the Cannabaceae family, native to Europe, western Asia andNorth America. It is an herbaceous, perennial that dies back,overwinters as a rhizome, and sends up new shoots in early spring. Thenew growth forms climbing bines that are able to reach heights over 20feet.

Hops are native to the northern hemisphere, and can be found wild incertain parts of North America. Commercial hops are cultivated betweenthe 30th and 50th parallel of both north and south latitudes as well asat varying altitudes. The photoperiodism of hops places its optimalcultivation in these latitudinal bands. Hops is adapted to theutilization of long summer days.

Humulus lupulus is a dioecious species, meaning female and malereproductive organs occur on separate plants. The flowers (cones) of thefemale hop plant are used in the making of beverage, especially beer, asa flavoring and processing component. It contributes to the bitternessand aroma in beer as well as foam quality, flavor, and taste stability.Male hop plants have no commercial value other than for use in breedingprograms. Male hops are kept well away from farms, as pollination andsubsequent seed production alters the properties, especially aroma, ofthe cone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar of hop, Humulus lupulus (common hop or hop), wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor at our laboratory. During thecreation of the new variety of the present invention, a specific plantfrom our farm cultivated for over 80 years (a non-patented, proprietaryHop plant owned by the assignee; hereafter referred to as CVC) wasexposed to colchicine during propagation.

More specifically, actively growing shoots were directly treated byinfusion with 0.5% (w/v) colchicine solution. Infusion of shoot cellswith colchicine occurred by immersing the material in an open containercontaining the colchicine solution. The submerged shoots as well as theentire parent plant were placed in a 5-gallon vacuum chamber. A vacuumwas pulled using a 1 stage, 3 CRM vacuum pump until the pressure insidethe chamber reached between −20.00 in.Hg and −29.20 in.Hg relative toatmosphere. To avoid shock during the creation of the vacuum, plantswere allowed to gradually acclimate for 15 min as pressure decreased.Once the target pressure was achieved, the pressure was held for 20 minto facilitate the colchicine solution entering the cells. Then, toprevent shock from rapid depressurization, plants were allowed togradually re-pressurize over the course of 15 minutes. The shoots wererinsed following treatment. Treated plants were placed in 2 gallon potscontaining a mixture of potting soil and perlite (3:1). All plants weregrown under natural photoperiod in growth chambers.

A number of differing plants were produced by the method. The plant ofthe present invention, hereafter referred to as CV12, was discoveredamong the resulting plants. It was found to be different from itsstarting material in a number of important respects. More specifically,this new plant possessed the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   a) Has a reduced genome size relative to its parent plant.    -   b) Has female reproductive organs significantly larger, in        length and weight, than those of its parent plant    -   c) Has an essential oil profile substantially different from its        parent plant.

Genome Size:

Cuttings from CV12 plants were taken from plants in the field andpropagated in the laboratory. Young leaves from these plants wereremoved and cells lysed and the DNA content of separated nuclei weremeasured using a BD Accuri™C6 Cytometer. 5000 nuclei were tested perplant. CV12 contained a 29% increased per nucleus DNA content relativeto CVC. The genomic change of CVC to CV12 is substantial and persiststhrough subsequent propagation.

Cones Significantly Larger:

On average, cones of CV12 are larger than cones of CVC. The averageweight of CVC cone is 1.26 g (∓0.07 s.e.) while the CV12 cone average is1.72 g (∓0.10 SE). This 460 mg difference in mass is significant(one-sided Student's t-test: df=82, t-value =−3.8064, p-value=0.0001347)and results in a 36% increase in mass from CVC to CV12. This increase inthe size of female reproductive organs is also seen in the averagelength of cones. CVC plants average a length of 38.17 mm (∓1.4 SE) whileCV12 plants produce cones averaging 43.40 mm (∓1.66 s.e.). This is asignificant increase in cone length from CVC to CV12 (one-sidedStudent's t-test: t-value=2.1528, df=15, p-value=0.02401).

Essential Oil Profile:

CV12 has a substantially increased myrcene content compared to CVC withapproximately 57% of oil content of CV12 made up of mycene while CVC hasless than 20% myrcene. This change in oil content manifests in adifference in aroma profile between the 2 plant types. CV12 is describedas having a Spicey/Piney/Citrus aroma whereas CVC isSpicey/Grassy/Floral.

The new variety of the present invention has been asexually propagatedat our farm by softwood cuttings and by rhizome propagation throughsuccessive generations, beginning in March, 2019. Such asexualpropagation has demonstrated that the unique combination ofcharacteristics has been well established and is transmitted tosuccesive generations.

Comparison to Known Varieties:

Component CV12 CVC Cascade Centennial Fuggle Alpha 6.40 6.9 7.40 10.204.40 (as % of cone weight) Beta 4.90 4.8 7.00 4.00 2.70 (as % of coneweight) B-Pinene 1.25 <0.05 0.83 1.09 0.35 (as % of total oils) Myrcene57.66 1.05 56.33 65.37 24.24 (as % of total oils) Linalool 0.37 <0.040.49 0.67 0.78 (as % of total oils) Caryophyllene 5.61 14.6 6.23 5.2314.01 (as % of total oils) Farnesene <0.05 <0.05 6.30 0.20 6.54 (as % oftotal oils) Humulene 9.89 29.35 14.19 10.68 36.37 (as % of total oils)Geraniol 0.47 <0.05 0.18 1.14 0.11 (as % of total oils) Known Varietiesdata from 2021 © Yakima Chief Hops Inc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a cone of the CV12 Hop plant.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the CV12 Hop plant.

FIG. 3 shows a cytomoter profile of the CV12 Hop plant, and particularlygenome size comparisons or propidium iodide muclei isolated from youngleaves of hop CVC plants (black) and hop CV12 plants (grey), where FIG.3A relates to CV12 leaves taken from clonal generation 3 and FIG. 3Brelates to CV12 leaves taken from clonal generation 4.

FIG. 4 shows a bine of the CV12 Hop plant before flowering.

FIG. 5 shows the bine and cones of the CV12 Hop plant prior to picking

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on observations made during thesummer of 2019 growing season at Modesto, Monroe Co. Ind. It should beunderstood that the characteristics described herein will vary dependingupon cultural practices and climatic conditions, as well as withlocation and season. All colors are described according to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Edition V. Quantified measurementsare expressed as an average of the measurements taken from a number ofindividual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individualplant, or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from thestated average.

-   Species: Humulus lupulus.-   Use: Brewing — aroma hop.-   Growth rate: Fast, reaching >18′ in one growing season.-   Regional adaptation: Adapted to U.S. Zones 6 and 6a.-   Plant shape: Cylindrical to club-shaped.    -   -   Time of flowering.—Around July 4th.        -   Time of picking.—August 21-September 4.        -   Relative volume of head.—Medium to High.-   Length of side shoots from the middle third of the plant.—Min=0.34    m, max=0.54 m, mean=0.40 m.    -   -   Length of side shoots from the upper third of the            plant.—Min=0.34 m, max=0.64 m, mean=0.48 m.        -   Number of cones per node from the middle third of the            plant.—Min=5, max=12, mean=8.5.        -   Number of cones per node from the upper third of the            plant.—Min=5, max=12, mean=8.92.        -   Total number of cones from the middle third of the plant            (per lateral shoot).—Min=12, max=50, mean=35.7.        -   Estimated number of cones in middle third of the plant.—680.        -   Total number of cones from the upper third of the plant (per            lateral shoot).—Min=16, max=56, mean=42.2.        -   Estimated number of cones in the upper third of the            plant.—800.-   Bine:    -   -   Color.—143C Yellow Green.        -   Stripe.—Present.        -   Stripe color.—61A Purplish Red.        -   Stipule direction.—Up split.        -   Stipule color.—N144C Yellow Green.        -   Bine diameter.—5.75 mm at 6 feet.        -   Main shoot anthocyanin color.—61A Purplish Red.-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Cordate to palmate.        -   Average length of mature leaf.—145.50 mm.        -   Average width of mature leaf.—113.67 mm.        -   Color of mature leaf upper surface.—152A Light Olive Green.        -   Color of mature leaf lower surface.—152A Light Olive Green.        -   Color of immature leaf upper surface.—144B Yellow Green.        -   Color of immature leaf lower surface.—149A Yellow Green.        -   Number of lobes.—0-7.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Serrations per inch.—5.        -   Average petiole length (mature).—46.00 mm.        -   Petiole color at base.—61A Purplish Red.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Vein color.—128D Pale Green.        -   Internode color.—143C Yellow Green.        -   Leaf resin gland color.—150D Yellow Green.        -   Amount of leaf blistering on the upper side of the            blade.—Weak to Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Bract tip color.—N 144C Yellow Green.        -   Bract tip shape.—Cuspidate.        -   Bract tip position.—Slightly everted.        -   Bract diameter.—17.08 mm.        -   Bract length at apex.—1-2.5 mm.        -   Bract base color.—N 144C Yellow Green.        -   Bracteole diameter.—18.75 mm.        -   Bracteole shape.—Narrowly ovate.        -   Bracteole color.—144D Yellow Green.        -   Compactness.—Loose.        -   Cone shape.—Ovate.        -   Cone length.—43.40 mm.        -   Cone diameter at shoulder.—22.50 mm.        -   Cone tip shape.—Bluntly Pointed.        -   Cone weight.—1.75 g.        -   Cones per node.—10-12.        -   Pickability.—Good.        -   Lupulin gland color.—14A Yellow.        -   Aroma.—Spicy/Piney/Citrus.-   Qualitative analysis:    -   -   Alpha acids (as % of cone weight; method—ASBC hops—6).—6.4%.        -   Beta acids (as % of cone weight; method—ASBC hops—6).—4.9%.        -   Hop storage index (method—ASBC hops—12).—0.23.-   Essential oil profile:

Retention Time Component Percent-% 10.045 3-Hexanone,4-methyl- 0.0412.282 Isobutylisobutyrate 0.34 12.793 Methylhexanoate 0.10 13.461Pinene<alpha> 0.17 15.518 Isoamylpropionate 0.89 16.054 Pinene<beta->1.25 16.895 Myrcene 57.66 17.105 Unidentified 0.05 18.072Isoamylisobutyrate 0.52 18.292 2-Methylbutylisobutyrate 2.31 18.777Methylheptanoate 0.3 18.973 Unidentified 0.37 19.261 Limonene 0.3819.375 Phellandrene<beta> 0.51 19.618 Ocimene<Z-beta> 0.05 20.317Ocimene<E-beta> 0.44 22.981 Methyl6-methylheptanoate 0.78 23.288Nonanone<2-> 0.09 23.926 Linalool 0.37 24.145Methylbutyl-2-methylbutyrate<2-> 0.06 24.51 Methylbutylisovalerate<2->0.11 25.56 Methyloctanoate 1.63 30.032 Nonanoicacid, methylester 0.2730.334 Methyl6-methyloctanoate 0.14 31.611 4-Nonenoicacid, methylester0.11 32.504 Methylnonanoate 0.38 34.34 Geraniol 0.47 34.773Undecanone<4-> 0.08 36.092 Cyclooctylacetate 0.07 36.874 Unidentified0.54 37.263 Undecanone<2-> 0.8 38.289 Methyldecenoate<4>Z 2.94 38.592Unidentified 1.72 39.152 Geranate<methyl-> 0.13 39.336 Methyldecanoate2.17 42.837 Copaene<alpha> 0.18 43.512 Unidentified 0.54 43.943Dodecanone<2> 0.11 45.728 Caryophyllene<beta> 5.61 45.846Methylundecanoate 0.07 46.311 Copaene<beta> 0.13 48.023 Humulene<alpha>9.89 48.711 Undecenylacetate 0.16 48.943 Cadina-1(6),4-diene<cis-> 0.1649.115 Cadina-1(6),4-diene<trans> 0.29 50.022 Selinene<beta-> 0.48 50.31Tridecan-2-one 0.36 50.465 Unidentified 1.43 50.924Methyl3,6-dodecadienoate 0.24 51.054 Geranylisobutyrate 0.39 51.171Unidentified 0.19 51.472 Amorphene<delta> 0.40 51.763 Cadinene<delta>0.63 52.043 Zonarene + Methyldodecanoate 0.19 52.624Cadine-1,4-diene<trans-> 0.06 59.907 Unidentified 0.2

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Hop plant substantially asillustrated and described herein.